Cam mechanism for knitting machines



Feb. 2 1926.

. CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed July 8, 1920 INVENTOR 14 44., 3%!

ATTORNEY:

8 Shea t 1 Feb. 2 19 26.

- w. FELS CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACBINES Original Filed July 8, 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ZQQATTORNEY 5 lake? ?@4 Feb. 2, 1926. 1 1,571,766

W. FELS I CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original File J ly 8, 1920 85heets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WWW 7 W BY 1/ AMA/* 7 M47 A; ru

Feb. 1926.

1,571,766 w. FELS CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Original Filed July 8. 1920 8 Sheets*$heet 4 INVENTOR W 956 BY 2",? Mai 4f ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 2, 1926. 1,571,766

w. FELS cm MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed July 8, 1920 a sheets-Sheet 5 STITCH CHANGE BACKING SAFETY INVENTOR am, a: M 0,1 E ATToRNEY Feb. 2 1926.

w. FELS MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES firiginal Fil July 8. 1920 a sheets-Sheet e INVEN'I OR W 7 0 BY W 71 W x; ATTORNEYS Feb. '2 1926.

W. FELS CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Fil J ly 8, 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 W #QXENTOR V Z a 7 ATTORNEY f Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,766

vm FELS CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed July 8. l 2 a Sheets-Sheet a F G G T G N FMMN lllll MIIIIINIllllllllllllilllllillll INVENTOR BY 51. MA 4 .4 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

UN IT ED STA s VJILLIAM'FELS, OF ELBERTA,.ALABAMA, ASSIGNOE TO MAX NYDEGGER, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING- MACHINES.

Orginal application filed July 8, 1920, Serial No. 384,678. Divided and this application filed August 31,

1921, Serial No. 497,233.

1 '0 all "iii/b0721 it may concern:

lie it known that I, WVILLIAM FELs, a citizen of Austria, residing in Elberta, county of Baldwin, and State of Alabama, have invented an Improvement in Cam Mechanism for Knitting Machines, of which thefoll0wii. is a specification.

'ihe present invention relates to an improvement in knitting machines, andmore particularly to mechanism for controlling the stitch length. One object has been to provide a machine which shall'be fully or partly automatic and at the same time of relatively simple construction with a m1n1- mum of mechanically controlled and actuated parts. A further object has'been to provide relatively simple means for prevent ing injury to themachine in case of careless or erroneous operation.

lit is known that knitting machines, automatic in varying degrees, have been, devised but these machines are usually of complicatel design and involve a multiplicity of mechanical movements which not only make the machine expensive to. manufacture, but also cause frequent breakdowns and make it necessary for the operator to devote considerable attention to repairs and adjustments.

According to the present invention, I utilizc substantially the well'known framework and opposed front and rear needle beds of a flat links links machine, although I do notintend to limit the application of the present invention to machines of this type, it being contemplated that the same or similar principles of operation may be applied to other ypes of knitting machines with suitable modifications. In connection with the flat double bed machine, I use areciproeating carriage preferably automatically reversible in direction and which carrieswith it suitable means for effecting changes in the positions of the jack actuating cams to produce corresponding changes in the stitch length. A complete operative knitting machine will also preferably include cam positioning means for controlling the action of the needle jacks to produce either flat or links links operation according to a predetermined order, and means for engaging'and disengaging a plurality of thread carriers to vary the 1 color scheme of the fabric according to predetermined ar- Renewcd July 11,1925.

ticns arranged inrthe path; ofcont acts said contacts forming part of electrical circuits connected with and controlling 'the operation of corresponding change mechanisms of the machine. Thus, the chart may be. rotated around the periphery of a drum in such a way that perforations will. occurv in predetermined relative positions in the path ofthe contacts and at the proper time to effect corresponding changesinthe operation of the machine and thus in the pattern of the fabric. The claims of the present application will, however,fbe limited tothe invention embodied in the stitch .length change mechanism as described and disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 894,678 filed July 8, 1920, of which the present application is a division.

One-embo-diinentof my invention is illustrated. in the drawingsaccompanying the present specification, and in which I Figure 1. is afront elevation,

- Figure 2, a rear elevation, Figure 3,-a topplan view,

Figure 1-, adiagrammatic representation of a portion of the power circuit including circuit breaking stop means,

Figure 5, a transverse vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 3,

Fi ure 6, an end elevation showing the arrangement of the'electrical pattern control chart,

Figure 7, a diagrammatic representation of a portion of the electrical pattern control system, I

Figure 8,21 top plan view of the reciprocating carriage with portions broken away to disclose details of construction,

Figure 9, a bottom plan View of the reciprocating carriage,

Figure 10, a detail fragmentary view of the pattern control chart and co-operating contacts, i' a Figure 11,. a detail view partly in vertical imparts intermittentmovement to said drum of the carriage.

to the extent of onestep during each stroke A .contact carrier 212 is mountedadjacent to the drum 201 and is provided with a plurality of perforations adapted to accommodate plunger contacts 213 normally pressed toward the drum by means of springs21 1.v The carrier 212 is pivotally mounted at 215 and is connected to the pawl carrier 208 by means of a link 216. A spring 217 may be provided to hold the contact carriernormally in position to permit the plunger contacts 213 to engage the peripheral surface of the drum 201 or, when in operation, the surface of a pattern chart 218, arranged to cover the surface of said drum. A yielding detent 219engages the :ratchet 2 11 to prevent lost motion. As indicated in FigurelO, the pattern chart 218 is provided with perforations 220 which'receive corresponding sprocket projections 221 extending from the peripheralsurface of the drum 201. The surface of the chart may be provided with transverse and longitudinal markings by which the pattern controlling perforations 222 and 223 may be more readi ly locatedand identified as to function. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the pattern chart willmove twice between each two of the perforations 220. In other words, the pattern chart will travel a distance equal to the distance ,between two perforations 220 during a. complete oscillation of the carriage D, but the movement Will take place in two increments. Thus, a change perforation 222 occurring on the same transverse line with the perforations 220 will indicate achange to be-effected at the endofa run of the carriage in one direction while a change perforation 223 indicates a change to be effected at the end of airun of the carriage inthe opposite direction.

In operation, the-plunger contacts 213 bear yieldingly against the surface of thepattern chart 218 and, as the perforations222 and 223 come into register with said plunger con tacts, the latter are permitted to extend through said perforations, thus, in eachcase, closing a circuit. This operation takes place intermediate theends of the carriage runs so that, when the carriage reaches one end or the other ofits course, one or more changes will take effect, depending upon the num! ber of perforations through which the plungers 213 are properly projecting into contact with the'drurn 201. Referring to Figure 7, circuits 17 and 18 include magnets which cooperate with thestitch change mechanism to'control the length of the stitch. The three positions herein provided for result in long nedium and short-stitches, respectiveiy.

The stitch change mechanism will bemore clearly understood from an examination of Figures 8 and 9 taken in connection with Figure 7. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, two

pairs of stitch forming cams 301 and 302 and 301" and 302 respectively are slidably mounted in the carriage D, the first mentioned or rear pair operating the needles in the rear bed and the other or front pair operating those in the front bed, the rear cam 301 and the diagonally opposed front cam 301 being connected by means of a suitable connecting rod 303, and the rear cam 302 and the diagonally opposed front cam 302 being connected by a suitable connecting rod 301 so that cam positioning mechanism operating for example on the rear cams may also simultaneously position the front cams. In Figure 9, the cams 301 and 302 are shown in stitch forming position and normally move to this position simultaneously when the carriage is traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow. At the same time, the then forward ca'ms 301 and 302 are withdrawn out of the path of the jack butts. The purpose of the stitch change control mechanism is to determine the extent to which the stitch forming cams in each movement of the carriage will extend away from the median line between the needle beds. In other words, the

farther the operative end of the cams is ,ex-

needle actuating jacks and therefore the longer the stitch made thereby. Ordinarily. a variation of three steps will be sufiicient corresponding to long, short and medium stitches. In accordance with the present invention, the electrical control system herein above referred to operates to automatically select a position fora stop .member which serves to limit; the movement of cam moving means. Thus, as :shown inFigure 7, said selecting apparatus is illustrated at L and may include an armature having a projecting lug 305, saidarmature being pivotally mounted at 306 and being also provided with detents 307 and 308. The lug 305 lies adjacent to the ends of the cores ofma 'nets 309 and 310. The lever which is pivoted at 104: and engages the drive chain 101 to move the carriage back and forth is also provided with arms 311 and 312 which are in turn pivotally connected with the cams 302 and 301, respectively, as shownin Figure 8. The arm. 311 is provided with adjustable stops 313 and 314. The arm 312 is similarly provided with adjustable stops 315 and 316. Another pair of adjustable stops 317 and 318 'may be.

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in the chart 215 1* in ure ltl. the arn'iature will he rotated and the detent do? will he moved into position opposite the inner end oi the :uljustahic stop lli fit uh ut the some time, the dire tion oi" the drive chain has heen reversed and. as it naive: in the direction ot the arrow it will carry with it the end il -l oi' the lever pivoted at ldl and the lever will thus he dellcctcd :1 certain oxtout hol'ore it pit-its up the carriage to more it; across the needle heels. H wever. the extent olf deflection is limited in; the iuterpo lion ol' the de lent il i in the path of :a pi role stops \hltil iii! the Eon-pom,

lu the illustrative case under consideratioin own the .lcrer deflected. the inner end or stop Ill?) will. con no the end of dctent Ill'll'. in moving to this position the arms ill and $312 actuate can] winner-lino rods Shiand 30?}, respectively. by whicli cums L? and Hill will lili't? hecn nitlulrau'n from i peiative jack cngaging position, While rains Fall and 302 will have hcen moved to stitch forming; position. 3v energizing the same magnet prior to movement of the carriage in the opposite direction. dctent 1308 will he positioned to intercept stop ill-l1 when the lever arm is deilectcd and the cams will. therefore he positioned to iiiorni a stitch oi dill'erent length from that previousl made. \Vherc both magnets are energized siuiultair couslv, the detents ill)? and 305 will talc a positicm to engage the lever arms kill and i512 hetween the stops on said arms and the extent of movement of the cams will then depend upon the. positioning); of the adjustable stops 317 and 318. These will preferably be adjusted to move the cams sullicicnt- 1y to form a stitch of inaxium length for hoth directions of movement oil the carriage. In the diagrammatic representation oi the circuits controlling the stitch change nicchanisiu hereinahove referred to, the circuits and contacts are identified by the numbers it? and 18, both ol which occur in all oi? the contact groups H, K and J.

The stitch change mechanism hcreinahorc described. zonsidered in its relatimiship to the knitting machine, is believed to mark a distinct: advance in the knitting machine art. (inc important advantage residing in this construction the displacing oi the inoperative or for 'ard cams out of the path ot the needle engaging jacks. thus eliminating;- the connnonlv experienced drag of the forward cams on the knitted fabric which has heretolore caused considerable dillicultv i u breakage of the yarn, particularly Where the machines are operation on a ver line or relatively Weak material.

T claim as my invention:

1. Cam mechanism for knitting machines having a can] carrier and reciprocating carrier actuating means, comprising cams slidably mounted on said carrier and cam moving means including a rocking member secured to said cams and actuated by the reripr iating carrier actuating means.

Cam mechanism for knitting machines having a cam carrier and a reciprocating carrier actuating: member including cams slidahl v mounted on the carrier and a l'UClilug; connector between the carrier actuating nicmhcr and cams on the carrier for moving said cams into operative stitch l orinii'ui position.

1'5. (lam mechanism :l'or knitting machines having a cam carrier and a rcciprocatii'ugg carrier actuating}; member, including stitch :l'oruiiug cams slidahly mounted on the carrier. a lever pivotally mounted on the carrier and pivotaltv conz'iectcd to the cams, and operativcly connected with the carrier actuating member to more the cams into cuurrative stitch torinii'ig; position.

l. (lain mechanism for knitting machines con'iprising a caui carrier, cams slidahly a1" ranged thereon, a plurality of stops for detel-mining di'll'crentrelative el'liective operating positions of said cams means for selectively moving said stops to different predelerniined positions on said carrier, and means {or moving the cams simultaneously to the predetermined relative positions fixed by d stops.

5. Cam mechanism for knitting machines comprising a cam carrier, cams slidably an ranged thereon, stop means for detern'linino' dill'crent relative el't'ectivc operating positions of said cams, including a pivotallv mounted detent, means tor selectively moving; the detent to diiierent predetermined stop positions, and mcauslor moving the cams simultaneously to the predetermined relative positions fixed by said detcnt.

(3. Cam mechanism For knitting machines comprising a cam carrier, coins slidahly arranged thereon, stop means for detcrn'iining diltcrent relative ell'ectivc operating positions of said cams including an armature having a detent, magnetically controlled means for moving said armature to present the detent; in dilli'eient attentive can] arresting positiims, and means :tor moving the cams simultaneously to the ]undetermined positioi'is lifted h v the deteut on the arn1u-- lure.

'7. Cam nicchanism 'l'or knitting machines having a cam carrier and reciprocating carrier actuating moans. comprising cams slidahly mounted on said carrier, and cam moving;- mcans including a rocliiing member so cured to said cams and actuated by the reciprmiating carrier actuating means and manually adjustable stop means for hunting the extent of deflecting oi the rocking iuen'r her.

H. (am mechanism for knitting machines having; a cam carrier and reciprocating car rier zit-mating means, comprising cams slid l i ii ably mounted on said carrier, and cam mov ing means including a rocking member secured to said cams and actuated by the reciprocating carrier actuating means, and manually adjustable stop means comprising a movable member mounted on the carrier in the path of the rocking member to limit the extent of deflection of said rocking member.

9. Cam mechanism for knitting machines having a cam carrier and reciprocating carrier actuating means, comprising cams slidably mounted on said carrier, and cam moving means including a rocking member secured to said cams and actuated by the reciprocating carrier actuating means, and adjustable stop means interposed in the path of said rocking member to determine the extent of deflection thereof.

10. Cam mechanism for knitting machines comprising a cam carrier, cams slidably arranged thereon, a pluralityof stops for determining difierent relative efiective operating positions of said cams, means for selectively moving said stops to difierent predetermined positions on said carrier, and means for moving the cams simultaneously to the predetermined relative positions fixed by said stops, and manually adjustable members operative between the cam moving means and the stops and cooperating with said stops to permit more accurate adjust-- ment of the extent of movement of said cam moving means.

11. Cam mechanism for knitting machines comprising a cam carrier, cams slidably mounted thereon, a rotatable armature hav in a plurality of spaced stops, means for moving said armature to elfectively present the stops in predetermined relative positions and means interposed between said cams and said stops to engage the stops and retain the cams in predetermined relative positions.

12. Cam mechanism for knitting machines con'iprising a cam carrier, reciprocating carrier actuating means, cams slidably mounted on the carrier, a rotatable stop member having spaced stop portions, means for rotating said stop member to present the stop portions in different el'lective cam arresting positions and means actuated by the reciprocating carrier for moving said cams and cooperating with said stop portions to retain the cams in different predetermined positions.

13. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cam carrier, stitch forming c ams slidably mounted thereon, a cam actuating lever pivoted on the carrier, and stop means adapted to engage different portions of the lever, said -means comprising a rotatable armature having spaced lever engaging portions, magnetic armature moving means in operative relation thereto and means for energizing said magnetic means including an electrical circuit and means on the carrier for automatically closing said circuit.

14;. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cam carrier, stitch forming cams slidably mounted thereon, a cam actuating lever operatively connected to the cams, a plurality of cam positioning stops operative- 1y arranged with respect to the lever, and electrically actuated means on the carrier for selectively positioning the stops.

15. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cam carrier, stitch forming cams slidab-ly mounted thereon, a cam actuating lever operatively connected to the cams, a plurality of cam positioning stops operatively arranged with respect to the lever, and electrically actuated means operatively connected with the carrier for selectively positioning the stops.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 13th day of July 1921.

' WILLIAM FELS. 

